Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Willard Obituary
New Ipswich Historical Society
1920
1920 NEW IPSWICH
Death of Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Willard
Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Willard, widow of the late Henry A. Willard, died Dec. 29. She was born in Boston, Feb., 1838, daughter of Samuel and Mary Flagg. Mrs. Willard was married to Henry A. Willard, Sept. 30, 1859. She had resided in town on the Willard homestead near Gibson Village nearly 60 years.
Mrs. Willard was ever ready to aid or do a kindness for her friends and neighbors. In her younger days she often visited the sick room and aided and cared for the suffering. She was a very efficient nurse. She possessed a contented and happy disposition and will be greatly missed.
The funeral was held at her late residence on Friday, Dec. 31, at 2 o'clock, Rev. John Elliot Bowman officiated. Interment was in the Willard lot in Central cemetery. The survivors are one son, Leon R. Willard, and two brothers, one living in Boston and one in Bridgewater, Mass.
Photo Archives
Leon R. Willard was the town photographer and son of the aforementioned Elizabeth. This is one example of his work.
James Roger diary entry (1909 leap year)
1913 was not a leap year, so there was no entry for February 29, 2013. This is the Roger entry for 1909, four years prior. Not much difference in the entries. Sweeping the church, Finn dance and getting post cards from Hamish.
29th February 1909 (Saturday)
Hard frost (24 degrees) David at Mason for wood for Walker. I cleaned Hall for Finn dance. And swept Church and vestibules also lit furnace. Got letter from Alice also P,C, from Hamish.
Excellent photograph with high resolution. Wonder what the occasion was about? Why only one male adult and a boy dressed as a girl (Arthur Thayer)? Looks like a caste from a play. Edna Hudson was a beautiful young woman, we read her obit recently. Prof Poore was known to give lectures on the history of art. Was the Cranford Company an acting group? Leon Willard was hired to take this photograph so it must have been a special occasion. As a boy I would hike through the woods behind my parents' place up to the Willard house on Willard Rd.